Ionization of helium and argon by very slow antiproton impact.

The total cross sections for single ionization of helium and single and double ionization of argon by antiproton impact have been measured in the kinetic energy range from 3 to 25 keV using a new technique for the creation of intense slow antiproton beams. The new data provide benchmark results for the development of advanced descriptions of atomic collisions and we show that they can be used to judge, for the first time, the validity of the many recent theories.

Stopping power in insulators and metals without charge exchange.

The slowing-down process of pointlike charged particles in matter has been investigated by measuring the stopping power for antiprotons in materials of qualitatively very different nature. Whereas the velocity-proportional stopping power observed for metal-like targets such as aluminum over a wide energy range of 1-50 keV is in agreement with expectations, it is surprising that the same velocity dependence is seen for a large band-gap insulator such as LiF. The validity of these observations is supported by several measurements with protons and several checks of the target properties. The observations call for both a qualitative explanation and a quantitative theoretical model.

Antiproton stopping at low energies: confirmation of velocity-proportional stopping power.

The stopping power for antiprotons in various solid targets has been measured in the low-energy range of 1-100 keV. In agreement with most models, in particular free-electron gas models, the stopping power is found to be proportional to the projectile velocity below the stopping-power maximum. Although a stopping power proportional to velocity has also been observed for protons, the interpretation of such measurements is difficult due to the presence of charge exchange processes. Hence, the present measurements constitute the first unambiguous support for a velocity-proportional stopping power due to target excitations by a pointlike projectile.

Electron cooling of high-energy protons in a multiring trap with a tank circuit monitoring the electron-plasma oscillations.

Electron cooling of energetic protons in a multiring trap was investigated experimentally with a tank circuit monitoring electron-plasma oscillations in the trap. The energy of protons was determined by time-of-flight measurements. It is found that a simple model can explain the qualitative behavior of both electron and proton energy when the initial energy of protons is less than 2 keV. Monitoring the electron-plasma temperature with a tank circuit can be an effective tool when energetic particles are electron cooled in a multiring trap.

Technology for recovering phosphorus from incinerated wastewater treatment sludge.

A bench-top study of phosphorus-recovering technology from ash associated with incinerated wastewater (sewage) treatment sludge was conducted by adding sulfuric acid to ashes for the elution of phosphorus. With the exception of lead, which is insoluble in sulfuric acid, when the pH of the ash fell below 2.0, phosphorus and various heavy metals in the ash were extracted. The study found that, when alkalis were added to adjust the pH of the ash extract to 4.0, phosphorus was subsequently recovered via filtration. Furthermore, when alkalis were added to adjust the pH to 10, the recovery of various heavy metals was observed. In addition, disposal of the remaining solution (wastewater), which consists of a relatively low concentration of salts, is not considered to be a significant issue since it is within wastewater discharge standards and has been found to be useful as an acid-treating substance.

Enantioselectivity of bunitrolol 4-hydroxylation is reversed by the change of an amino acid residue from valine to methionine at position 374 of cytochrome P450-2D6.

The enantioselectivity of 4-hydroxylation of bunitrolol (BTL), a beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug, was studied in microsomes from human liver, human hepatoma (Hep G2) cells expressing CYP2D6, and lymphoblastoid cells expressing CYP2D6. Kinetics in human liver microsomes showed that the Vmax value for (+)-BTL was 2.1-fold that of (-)-BTL, and that the Km value for (+)-BTL was lower than that for the (-)-antipode, resulting in the intrinsic clearance (Vmax/Km) of (+)-BTL being 2.1-fold over its (-)-antipode. CYP2D6 (CYP2D6-met) expressed in Hep G2 cells had a methionine residue at position 373 of the amino acid sequence and a rat-type N-terminal peptide (MELLNGTGLWSM) instead of the human-type (MGLEALVPLAVIV), and showed enantioselectivity of [(+)-BTL < (-)-BTL] for the rate of BTL 4-hydroxylation. In contrast, enantioselectivity [(+)-BTL > (-)-BTL] for Hep G2-CYP2D6 (CYP2D6-val) with a human-type N-terminal peptide that had a valine residue at 374, which corresponds to the methionine of the CYP2D6-met variant, was the same as that for human liver microsomes. We further confirmed that CYP2D6-met and CYP2D6-val expressed in human lymphoblastoid cells, both of which have methionine and valine, respectively, at position 374 and a human-type N-terminal peptide, exhibited the same enantioselectivities as those obtained from CYP2D6-met and CYP2D6-val expressed in the Hep G2 cell system. These results indicate that the amino acid at 374 of CYP2D6 is one of the key factors influencing the enantioselectivity of BTL 4-hydroxylation.

[Reliability of the exercise ECG in detecting silent ischemia in patients with prior myocardial infarction].

To assess the reliability of the exercise ECG in detecting silent ischemia, ECG results were compared with those of stress-redistribution thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in 116 patients with prior myocardial infarction and in 20 normal subjects used as a control. The LV was divided into 20 segmental images, which were scored blindly on a 5-point scale. The redistribution score was defined as thallium defect score of exercise subtracted by that of redistribution image and was used as a measure of amount of ischemic but viable myocardium. The upper limit of normal redistribution score (= 4.32) was defined as mean +2 standard deviations derived from 20 normal subjects. Of 116 patients, 47 had the redistribution score above the normal range. Twenty-five (53%) of the 47 patients showed positive ECG response. Fourteen (20%) of the 69 patients, who had the normal redistribution score, showed positive ECG response. Thus, the ECG response had a sensitivity of 53% and a specificity of 80% in detecting transient ischemia. Furthermore, the 116 patients were subdivided into 4 groups according to the presence or absence of chest pain and ECG change during exercise. Fourteen patients showed both chest pain and ECG change and all these patients had the redistribution score above the normal range. Twenty-five patients showed ECG change without chest pain and 11 (44%) of the 25 patients had the abnormal redistribution. Three (43%) of 7 patients who showed chest pain without ECG change had the abnormal redistribution score. Of 70 patients who had neither chest pain nor ECG change, 19 (27%) had the redistribution score above the normal range. Thus, limitations exist in detecting silent ischemia by ECG in patients with a prior myocardial infarction, because the ECG response to the exercise test may have a low degree of sensitivity and a high degree of false positive and false negative results in detecting silent ischemia.

[Clinical study for prediction of postoperative visual acuity in cataract patients].

In order to predict more quantitatively postoperative visual acuity in cataract patients, we employed the potential acuity meter (PAM). The PAM projects a Snellen visual acuity chart into the eye by a minute aerial aperture approximately 0.1 mm in diameter. The value of determining potential visual acuity is evident because of the frequent co-existence of macular abnormalities in cataract patients. The 20 cataract patients had an average of 64.8 years (range, 48 to 84 years), and 8 were men and 12 were women. In 23 of the 25 eyes examined, postoperative visual acuity was within two lines or better than the predicted visual acuity with the PAM. Provided the operator is skillful, and if one recognizes its limitations and indications, the PAM is a useful means of predicting postoperative visual acuity in patients with mild or moderate cataracts.

[Complication of central retinal vein occlusion in iron deficiency anemia].

A case of central retinal vein occlusion as a complication of severe iron deficiency anemia is reported. A 45-year-old woman noticed severe visual impairment in her left eye. Fundus findings showed typical impending occlusion of the central retinal vein, and laboratory investigation revealed severe iron deficiency anemia. She was followed by treatment with oral iron. Her visual acuity and fundus findings improved rapidly in response to iron supplement therapy, suggesting a relationship between central retinal vein occlusion and iron deficiency anemia. It seems very important therefore to investigate serum iron levels in female patients with central retinal vein occlusion.

[Effects of anteroseptal myocardial infarction on systolic and diastolic filling function of the right ventricle].

To assess the effects of wall motion abnormalities of the anterior left ventricle and interventricular septum on right ventricular (RV) systolic and diastolic filling function, multiple-gated radionuclide angiography was performed at rest in 53 patients with previous anteroseptal myocardial infarction and 14 normal subjects. There were 26 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than or equal to 45% (group 1) and 27 with LVEF less than 45% (group 2). Six measurements were obtained simultaneously in both ventricles: 1) EF, 2) peak ejection rate, 3) duration of systole, 4) peak filling rate, 5) time to the peak filling rate, and 6) ratio of the peak filling rate to the peak ejection rate. The mean RV ejection fraction and the peak ejection rate in groups 1 and 2 were similar to those in the normal subjects. The ratio of the peak RV filling rate to the peak RV ejection rate, a sensitive indicator of diastolic filling function, decreased significantly in group 1 (0.61 +/- 0.15, p less than 0.02) and group 2 (0.59 +/- 0.15, p less than 0.02) as compared with that in the normal subjects (0.74 +/- 0.14). This indicates an impairment of early diastolic RV filling compared with RV systolic function. Thus, RV systolic function appears to be normally maintained even when anteroseptal wall motion is severely impaired; however, even in the presence of mild anteroseptal wall motion abnormality, RV filling may be impaired without reduced RV systolic function.

Cell-mediated suppression of human hematopoiesis: evaluation by limiting-dilution analysis of hematopoietic progenitors.

We have used limiting-dilution clonal analysis (LDA) in microwells to study the inhibitory effects of T lymphocytes (T-cells) or natural killer (NK) cells on human marrow progenitor cell growth. In four subjects with normal hematopoiesis, the growth of progenitors showed single-hit kinetics both before and after T-cell removal, indicating that, in the presence of colony-stimulating activity, T-cell have no effect on progenitor growth. In a patient with marrow hypoplasia associated with thymoma, hypogammaglobulinemia, and an increased number of suppressor T-cells (Good's syndrome), the progenitor growth deviated from linearity, demonstrating the presence of cells with suppressor activity. After T-cells were removed from this sample, the progenitor growth showed single-hit kinetics. The suppressive action of E-rosette-positive cells with NK or cytotoxic activities was also suggested in a patient with severe combined immune deficiency and in a patient with T gamma lymphocytosis. Poor progenitor-cell growth in three other patients with aplastic anemia was not significantly altered by T-cell removal. Thus, LDA of human hematopoietic progenitors is useful for evaluating cell-mediated interactions affecting hematopoiesis. This method may facilitate elucidation of mechanisms of myelosuppression in clinical settings.

[Clinical study on sulbactam/ampicillin in the pediatric field].

A combination drug of sulbactam/ampicillin (SBT/ABPC) was intravenously administrated to 18 patients with ages 3 months to 10 years 10 months with various acute infections including 14 cases of pneumonia, 1 case each of tonsillitis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, empyema and suspected sepsis. Clinical responses were excellent in 14 cases and good in 4 cases. Bacteriological responses of 8 isolated strains were: 7 strains were eradicated and 1 strain was decreased. No side effect was observed in any case. Eosinophilia was observed in 2 cases, thrombocytosis in 2 cases, elevation of GOT in 1 case and elevations of GOT and GPT in 1 case. From the above results, it seemed that SBT/ABPC was a useful drug for the treatment of bacterial infections in the pediatric field.

[Clinical experience with clarithromycin in the pediatric field].

Clarithromycin (TE-031, A-56268) was orally administered to 20 children with the following acute bacterial infections; 1 case of acute pharyngitis, 3 cases of acute tonsillitis, 11 cases of acute bronchitis, 1 case of exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, 1 case of acute bronchopneumonia, 2 cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia and 1 case of impetigo. Clinical effectiveness was obtained in 15 out of the 20 cases (75.0%). No clinical side effects and laboratory abnormalities were observed. The above results suggest that TE-031 is a useful antibiotics for treating pediatric patients with various bacterial infections.

[Case of multiple macroaneurysms of the retinal arteries].

A 74-year-old female with acquired macroaneurysms of the retinal arteries of the left eye is presented. During a follow-up period of three years of this rare case, six macroaneurysms developed one after another. Three of them were treated by argon laser photocoagulation because of severe complications such as retinal haemorrhage and exudation onto the macula. However, recovery of visual function of the final stage following treatment was unsatisfactory. Concerning the unusual clinical course of this case, we speculate that severe arteriolosclerosis of the retinal vessels played a fundamental role in this pathological condition.

[Clinical prospective study of surgical treatment of pterygium].

Pterygium is a kind of degenerative lesion of the ocular conjunctiva and is thought to be hyperaemia of fibrovascular tissue onto the cornea caused by various factors. The most frequently used treatment for pterygium at present is surgery. Various surgical procedures and postoperative treatments for pterygium have been reported, however, the postoperative recurrence rates are somewhat high. Therefore, until now we have had no satisfactory clinical management of pterygium. The results of our method for surgical treatment of pterygium are given and compared with those described in many other reports. From this comparison, our clinical surgical treatment of pterygium, which is the so-called "bare sclera" technique, is evaluated to give the best management without serious complications and recurrences.

Anti-galactocerebroside antibodies in human cerebrospinal fluids determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The standard ELISA technique was improved for the detection of antigalactocerebroside antibody in biological fluid. Mouse monoclonal antigalactocerebroside antibody was used to demonstrate specificity and sensitivity of the technique. After optimization of the assay, the usefulness of this measurement for the evaluation of patients with multiple sclerosis was assessed. The presence of antigalactocerebroside antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of 20 patients with multiple sclerosis, 10 with other neurological diseases and 10 normal individuals was determined. All the CSF samples from normal individuals were negative. In patients with multiple sclerosis 14 of the 20 samples had elevated levels of antigalactocerebroside antibody, whereas with other neurological diseases 5 out of 10 were positive. Antigalactocerebroside levels were lower in samples from patients during an acute relapse than in those from more chronic cases. These results indicate that the presence of antigalactocerebroside antibody in cerebrospinal fluid is not specific to MS but may reflect previous damage to myelin.

Characterization and comparison of lipids in different squid nervous tissues.

We have studied the lipid composition of brain (optic and cerebral lobes), stellate ganglia and fin nerves of the squid. Cholesterol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine were the major lipids in these nervous tissues. Phosphatidylethanolamine contained about 3% of its amount in [corrected] plasmalogen form. Phosphatidylserine and -inositol, sphingomyelin and ceramide 2-aminoethylphosphonate were also present in significant amounts. In addition, cardiolipin and free fatty acids were detected in brain (each 2-3% of total lipids) and stellate ganglia (about 1% each), but not in fin nerves. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol from brain contained large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely 20:4, 20:5 and 22:6 in the n-3 family. On the other hand, phosphatidylcholine, cardiolipin, and sphingomyelin, and ceramide 2-aminoethylphosphonate contained only saturated or monounsaturated C16-C18 fatty acids. The aldehyde moieties of ethanolamine plasmalogen were also C16-C18 saturated or monounsaturated. These lipid compositions are compared with those in other invertebrate nervous systems.

Simultaneous determination of psychosine and cerebrosides.

A new method was developed for the simultaneous determination of psychosine and cerebrosides in tissues. Total lipids extracted from the tissues were treated with [3H]acetic anhydride in toluene-methanol. Known amounts of nonradioactive N-acetylpsychosine were added to the reaction product and then subjected to mild alkaline methanolysis. After the product was washed, it was fractionated by silica gel column chromatography and the fraction containing glycolipids was benzoylated. The benzoylated product was finally fractionated on TLC. The amounts of benzoylated derivatives of nonhydroxy- and hydroxycerebrosides and N-acetylpsychosine were determined using a scanning densitometer. The amounts of psychosine in tissues were calculated from the radioactivity in the spot of N-acetylpsychosine and the recovery of added carrier N-acetylpsychosine. This method allowed us to determine 5 to 1000 pmol of psychosine and 1 to 20 nmol of cerebrosides in peripheral nerves and other tissues of the twitcher mouse as well as transfected Schwann cells derived from the sciatic nerves.

[Pharmacokinetic and clinical experience with flomoxef in bacterial infection in children].

Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies were performed on flomoxef (FMOX, 6315-S), a new oxacephem antibiotic, as follows. 1. Pharmacokinetics Serum concentrations of FMOX were measured in 2 cases given 20 mg/kg bolus injection. In the 2 cases, peak concentrations of the drug were 44.3 and 197 micrograms/ml at 15 minutes, T1/2 (beta) were 0.76 and 0.47 hour and AUC were 44.8 and 169.5 micrograms.hr/ml, respectively. Urinary recovery rates for these cases during 6 hours were 83.1 and 54.9%, respectively. The extremely high peak serum concentration in one case may be attributed to dehydration. 2. Clinical efficacy FMOX was administrated intravenously to 12 patients, 6 with pneumonia, 2 with cellulitis, 1 each with bronchitis, tonsillitis, purulent lymphadenitis and subcutaneous abscess, in doses of 55.0-120.0 mg/kg (average 82.2 mg/kg) t.i.d. for 4-13 days (average 6.2 days). The overall efficacy rate was 100%, with excellent responses in 10 and good in 2. Bacteriological efficacy was excellent; 4 of 5 strains were eradicated and 1 strain was decreased. No clinical side effect was observed. Laboratory abnormality was observed in 1 case with transient eosinophilia. The above results suggested that FMOX would be an useful antibiotic for treating pediatric bacterial infections.